Spodoptera eridania (Cramer) is a growing pest in crops that has been causing damage due to defoliation and lesion in reproductive structures, which requires studies of development in different types of hosts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of S. eridania in different species of host plants. The larvae were reared in laboratory in cotton plants of the Delta Opal cultivar. The caterpillars of newly hatched larvae were placed in Petri dishes and fed on these plants: black velvet bean (Stizolobium aterrimum), guandu bean (Cajanus cajan), jack bean (Canavalia ensiformes), forage radish (Raphanus sativus), sunnhep (Crotalaria juncea) and millet (Pennisetum americanum). The following parameters were evaluated: attractiveness and consumption in a multiple choice test; viability; larval and pupal period and weight; sex ratio; adult longevity; and total duration of the development cycle. The jack bean and forage radish plants showed greater attractiveness and were the most consumed ones by S. eridania caterpillars. The larval period was shorter among the larvae fed on black velvet beans in comparison to guandu beans, jack beans, forage radish and C. juncea. Larvae fed on forage radish and C. juncea leaves had the heaviest pupal weight. The best progress of caterpillars was obtained in the following hosts: guandu bean, forage radish and C. juncea. The millet had a negative influence on the biological parameters of caterpillars, thus not proving to be a viable host, since larval mortality was of 100%.
black caterpillar; nutritional ecology; alternative host
